Respiratory effects of brevetoxin and saxitoxin in awake guinea pigs.

Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (brevetoxin) is associated with 'Florida red tide' and cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Saxitoxin is the agent of paralytic shellfish poisoning. Clinical reports of human intoxication suggest that both toxins affect the respiratory system. The toxins were administered by slow intravenous infusion. The effects of the toxins on respiratory function of awake guinea pigs in a pressure plethysmograph were studied. Both toxins caused lactic acidosis of unknown etiology, which was compensated for by increased minute volume with brevetoxin (PbTx-3)- but not with saxitoxin-intoxicated animals. In general, brevetoxin increased ventilation, before respiratory failure, while saxitoxin had a depressive effect on ventilation. Airways resistance was not increased, nor was dynamic compliance decreased during intoxication, although the data suggest that respiratory system failure was the primary cause of death. The responses seen in these experiments are consistent with the dissimilar molecular actions of these toxins.